Sunday, November 11, 2012

Unforseen Marathon Dilemma

I was totally set to run the Potomac River Run next week. Ready to run on trail. Ready to run in the cold weather (DC was freezing for a while). And ready to be close to home and not spend money on marathon travel.

And then Philadelphia opened up 3,000 spots for NYC Marathon refugees and had a lottery to determine those that would be lucky enough to race.

So I entered without thinking. Actually, my thinking was "aw I'll never get in." I pressed the "send" button with 8 minutes to spare before the deadline.

Then I realized, "uh oh. 3,000 Runners? Crap. I'll probably get in. I don't know how many NYC refugees are ready and willing to travel so soon to Philly" 

And Friday, almost a week to the minute after I found out that NYC was cancelled, I found out I got into Philadelphia.


Uh. Oh.

I now have two options:

Option #1.  I stay here next weekend and run the Potomac race. I don't have to travel. I get to sleep in that morning. Get to go home right after. I'll have a chance to be in the top (only if everything goes well). But have to run an out and back twice on trail - which I'm not a huge fan of but could deal with. I'll save travel money, but would lose out on $200 from the Philly entry (I wouldn't feel that bad about it because $100 of it goes to the Red Cross)

Option #2. I go to Philly. Race what I hear is an awesome course and race. Get to see a new city, but spend 5 hours in the car (there and back) and money on a hotel. Then get to wake up at 4 or 4:30 to get to the start for 6:00 even though the race doesn't start till 7. Then not have the weekend here to plan for school. But wait, we have two days of school next week before Thanksgiving. OK  I think it would work out.

Right now I'm leaning toward Philly. It is just very random and not like me to spontaneously sign up for a race without seriously considering it for 24 hours. No matter which race I choose, there will always be a part of me that wonders what could have happened at the other race. I'll let you know what the final verdict is as soon as I know.

5 comments:

  1. Philly!!! I so wanted to do that race but I have a work commitment so I couldn't do it. ;((( and last year I waited too long to sign up and it was closed! :(( again! I hear its awesome and I am definitely freaking doing it next year! I'm partial to Philly but I think it's cool you'll be doing one regardless! ;)

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    1. That's a bummer! I hope you can do it next year. Philly will probably be the race I go to, but it's so random of me to even consider signing up for one when I already have one planned for that day.

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  2. YOu might as well go to philly! Sleep and planning will always be there - the Philly marathon comes around just once a year! :)

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  3. Run Philly!! Sorry to hear about the hurricane/NYC marathon cancellation in the States. I am so impressed that you are teaching AND marathon training. Wow.

    All of my hobbies have fallen to the wayside. I do yoga about once a week. Hahaha!

    Do you read Are You Kitten Me? She is a runner (and cat lover!), and she is doing the Philly marathon. Go for it!

    (Although, I totally understand needing weekends to have some down time/teacher planning time to them. I wish we had three-day weekends. Most of the teachers in Japan are at school everyday though. CRAZY.)

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